Dimitri and I headed off to Chicago for a wedding this weekend. The same weekend as the Chicago Marathon! I got my long run in on Saturday morning, running from Damen and North Ave over to Lake Shore Drive, up to Lawrence Ave, and back (16 miles total). Lake Shore Drive is an amazing resource - bathrooms and water fountains, yay! There were many runners out that morning, but it was cold cold cold. I was ill-prepared, having accidentally brought my Fred's Team singlet (tank top) rather than the long sleeved training shirt. Darn! I wore a cotton hoodie over it, but that did not do a terrific job of keeping me warm after it got sweaty. So now I am sick. Ho hum.
I am going to try to take it easy this week and cross train in the gym. Then on Saturday morning I am running the last 10 miles of the marathon course with Fred's Team! Also, Dimitri's NYC concert is on Friday night, so I am very excited for that.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The "Other Kenyans" and the Most Adorable Marathon Runner EVER
I was clicking around the ING New York City Marathon Website, and I came across the link for a Marathon charity that Edward Norton is running for, the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust.
There are runner profiles for the Maasai warriors who are running the NYC Marathon this year for the charity as well, most of whom have never left Kenya before in their lives. And this guy, Parashi Ntanin, he just put tears in my eyes. You have to watch the video where he shows his "running shoes." It is too much! I wish I ran fast enough to keep up with these guys, I would love to run with them. Says Parashi:
"Everyone says that I am the fastest runner in our group, but since this is my first time in a big city, I think I will try to run at the same pace as my friends so I don’t get lost." I want to hug him and make him dinner and buy him running shoes! Which reminds me, please donate your old running shoes to "Shoes 4 Africa".
Ever since I watched, "God Grew Tired of Us" I have been mildly obsessed with Africa. Now I am determined to visit Campi ya Kanzi - it has bumped the Galapagos from the top of the list, and that's saying something!
There are runner profiles for the Maasai warriors who are running the NYC Marathon this year for the charity as well, most of whom have never left Kenya before in their lives. And this guy, Parashi Ntanin, he just put tears in my eyes. You have to watch the video where he shows his "running shoes." It is too much! I wish I ran fast enough to keep up with these guys, I would love to run with them. Says Parashi:
"Everyone says that I am the fastest runner in our group, but since this is my first time in a big city, I think I will try to run at the same pace as my friends so I don’t get lost." I want to hug him and make him dinner and buy him running shoes! Which reminds me, please donate your old running shoes to "Shoes 4 Africa".
Ever since I watched, "God Grew Tired of Us" I have been mildly obsessed with Africa. Now I am determined to visit Campi ya Kanzi - it has bumped the Galapagos from the top of the list, and that's saying something!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Now I Know I'll Make It!
So I had my last big training run on Saturday morning - 20 miles - and it was a success! Now I know that after taper I will definitely be able to make my 26.2 at pace on November 1st - which is a great feeling. I even had a running buddy for the last 6 miles, a nice gentleman named Larry who ran his first NYC Marathon right after 9/11. It made such a difference for both of us to run those last 6 miles together, that I have an idea now how much the spirit and camaraderie on the day of the marathon will really help me.
Saturday night was a big night as well - Dimitri's benefit concert in Setauket, Long Island! There was a nice crowd there, and we made enough money to bring me to just $82 shy of my $3000 goal. I know we will get there and beyond with the NYC concert on October 16th. Dimitri played beautifully, I was so proud of him, and we have a nice recording of the event as well on CD.
Next weekend we will be in Chicago for my friend Kari's wedding, so I will be running my 18 miles on Lake Shore Drive, the last long run before taper.
Saturday night was a big night as well - Dimitri's benefit concert in Setauket, Long Island! There was a nice crowd there, and we made enough money to bring me to just $82 shy of my $3000 goal. I know we will get there and beyond with the NYC concert on October 16th. Dimitri played beautifully, I was so proud of him, and we have a nice recording of the event as well on CD.
Next weekend we will be in Chicago for my friend Kari's wedding, so I will be running my 18 miles on Lake Shore Drive, the last long run before taper.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Fear and Trembling and ... Massage?
I forgot to mention that during the infamous 18 Mile Screw Up run last weekend, I was confronted with this guy who was not racing, but running in the park, in the opposite direction, and so crossed paths with me a couple of times. He looked like a hard-core runner, and as we ran past each other, he would look in my face and say "no pain, no pain." It was great, and helpful to hear, but there was pain. Pain and soreness and exhaustion and fear. Fear of getting too injured to go on, fear of not finishing. Fear that on November 1st, I wouldn't have it in me. This is ok, I tell myself. Even Kara Goucher was afraid of the marathon. She says she is still intimidated by the distance.
Most everyone I know who is training for the NYC Marathon right now is injured. Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, ITBS, PFPS, and my biggest fear of all: stress fractures. I mean really, is there anything more horrifying than the fact that prolonged stretches of distance running can cause your bones to literally fracture?! I saw some guy running last weekend who had that funky kinesio taping over 90% of his legs. Because at this point, come on, who wants to default to next year? We have come so far, this has to happen!!!
There is a lot you can do as a runner to prevent injury, and so aside from the ice baths, speed, hill, and distance runs, I have a weekly injury prevention session that is a little less painful. Massage! Now, the only way I can really afford a weekly massage is because I go to this Chinese $1 a minute place in my neighborhood. You should have seen the look on their faces Monday night when my hour massage was over and I presented them with my full punch card (after 10 massages you get one free). They did not even try to disguise their displeasure.
Most everyone I know who is training for the NYC Marathon right now is injured. Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, ITBS, PFPS, and my biggest fear of all: stress fractures. I mean really, is there anything more horrifying than the fact that prolonged stretches of distance running can cause your bones to literally fracture?! I saw some guy running last weekend who had that funky kinesio taping over 90% of his legs. Because at this point, come on, who wants to default to next year? We have come so far, this has to happen!!!
There is a lot you can do as a runner to prevent injury, and so aside from the ice baths, speed, hill, and distance runs, I have a weekly injury prevention session that is a little less painful. Massage! Now, the only way I can really afford a weekly massage is because I go to this Chinese $1 a minute place in my neighborhood. You should have seen the look on their faces Monday night when my hour massage was over and I presented them with my full punch card (after 10 massages you get one free). They did not even try to disguise their displeasure.
Monday, September 28, 2009
18 Miles in the Pouring Rain
Sounds like a bad country song, but no, it is just my Sunday morning! I completed 18 miles this Sunday, through the NYRR "marathon tune up" 18 mile organized run. I am not so in love with NYRR anymore, considering Saturday morning would have been perfect weather. Instead, I got to go my 18 miles in the incessant pouring rain - soaked to the bone, waterlogged shoes, cold, depressed, desperate, clinging to life, haha ok maybe not that bad but definitely the soaking wet socks and shoes were horrible!
Also, I love that they call it a tune up. My body feels more screwed up than tuned up! My left knee and right foot are killing, especially if I try to go down stairs. I am hoping that a yoga session and some serious icing tonight will help. Speaking of which, I also had a cupcake with icing this afternoon... I deserved it!
Amazing fund raising news, I am now at $2075 total! Only $925 left to go! We are in the final stretches, and I feel like I'm in good shape all around. Dimitri did a run-through of his recital at a friend's house this weekend, and it was beautiful, so I am very excited for the upcoming concerts!
Also, I love that they call it a tune up. My body feels more screwed up than tuned up! My left knee and right foot are killing, especially if I try to go down stairs. I am hoping that a yoga session and some serious icing tonight will help. Speaking of which, I also had a cupcake with icing this afternoon... I deserved it!
Amazing fund raising news, I am now at $2075 total! Only $925 left to go! We are in the final stretches, and I feel like I'm in good shape all around. Dimitri did a run-through of his recital at a friend's house this weekend, and it was beautiful, so I am very excited for the upcoming concerts!
Friday, September 25, 2009
A Few Minor Adjustments
When I signed up to run the marathon I didn't take it lightly, but I also didn't foresee exactly how the endeavor would turn into the Blob and envelope my life in its sentient protoplasm. That may be a little dramatic. The truth is, I send my boyfriend out alone on Friday nights because I have to go to bed at 10pm and can't drink, so that I can get up at 5am for my Saturday morning long run. Then on Saturday nights when we socialize together, I find myself talking to people about how long I ran that morning, what my legs feel like right now, and good god I even talk to them about my under arm chafing! Seriously - when your coworkers start leaving torn out NY Times articles about runners lubricants in your desk, you know you've discussed your chafing with too many people.
I spend the better part of my Saturday afternoons soaking in an ice bath, napping, and taking a hot shower. I spend shocking amounts of money on gear and gels and I obsessively covet a pricey GPS watch (the Garmin Forerunner 405 in case you are curious). I know Central Park like the back of my hand. I can run up and down a set of stairs repeatedly for an entire hour. I have a Runner's World subscription (thanks mom!) and I actually understand what they are saying now when they talk about "negative splits" and "tempo runs." When people tell me they don't like running, I feel like they are missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures. I actually lose track of time while running. The marathon has enveloped me in its sentient protoplasm, and now we are one. If you don't like to hear someone talk about running, you should probably avoid me at parties.
I am doing 18 miles on Sunday with NYRR (why I haven't joined NYRR yet is beyond me), so wish me luck! After that, I do 20, then taper, then it's showtime!
I spend the better part of my Saturday afternoons soaking in an ice bath, napping, and taking a hot shower. I spend shocking amounts of money on gear and gels and I obsessively covet a pricey GPS watch (the Garmin Forerunner 405 in case you are curious). I know Central Park like the back of my hand. I can run up and down a set of stairs repeatedly for an entire hour. I have a Runner's World subscription (thanks mom!) and I actually understand what they are saying now when they talk about "negative splits" and "tempo runs." When people tell me they don't like running, I feel like they are missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures. I actually lose track of time while running. The marathon has enveloped me in its sentient protoplasm, and now we are one. If you don't like to hear someone talk about running, you should probably avoid me at parties.
I am doing 18 miles on Sunday with NYRR (why I haven't joined NYRR yet is beyond me), so wish me luck! After that, I do 20, then taper, then it's showtime!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Final Shoes
Last week I bought the pair of New Balances that will see me through the marathon, and it felt sort of weighty. I'll train in them for these last 6 weeks to get them nice and broken in, and then they will see me through to the finish line (where I plan on getting to come hell or high water - but I really do hope it doesn't rain!). Then maybe I will have them bronzed, hahaha. The really nifty thing is, they have little orange accents that will match my Fred's Team singlet!
Fundraising ramped up recently, bringing me to $1885 now - just $1115 from my goal! Dimitri's concerts in Long Island on 10/3 and in Manhattan on 10/16 should get me the rest of the way no problem. He has been practicing a LOT and everything sounds beautiful, I am really excited.
This past weekend I did 15 miles, which finally felt good and ok! This coming Saturday, I'll do 13, then ramp back up to 16, 18, and 20 before the final taper. Let hope my little left knee cooperates for a few more weeks, it's been getting a little cranky. I am SO sick of ice baths but I keep taking them!
Fundraising ramped up recently, bringing me to $1885 now - just $1115 from my goal! Dimitri's concerts in Long Island on 10/3 and in Manhattan on 10/16 should get me the rest of the way no problem. He has been practicing a LOT and everything sounds beautiful, I am really excited.
This past weekend I did 15 miles, which finally felt good and ok! This coming Saturday, I'll do 13, then ramp back up to 16, 18, and 20 before the final taper. Let hope my little left knee cooperates for a few more weeks, it's been getting a little cranky. I am SO sick of ice baths but I keep taking them!
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